The Roman City

Italica was founded by Publius Cornelius Scipio, better known as “Africanus.” The roman general founded Italica as a place of settlement for the soldiers in 206 BC, during the war against Carthage. Italica was the birth place of two important roman emperors: Marcus Ulpius Traianus, better known as Trajan and his successor, Publius Aelius Hadrianus, better known as Hadrian, who built as an attribute to Trajan an extension of the “Vetus Urbs” (old city and built by Africanus) the “Nova Urbs” (new city) which is now an archeological complex that you can visit not to far from Seville. The bus ride will be just 20 minutes and the entrance price of the complex is only 1, 5 euros or free for UE members. The only day that the complex is closed is Monday, the rest of the days, even holidays, is open; just check the schedule because it may vary. Please also remember to wear lots of sun cream, the complex is an outdoor place and you will have to walk and use the stairs to see the ruins.

Italica will amazed you because even though is not fully excavated, you will be able to see floor plans of the houses, the well kept mythological mosaics, like the House of the Birds, the remains of thermal establishments and off course the gigantic amphitheatre, one of the largest in the Roman Empire, able to seat 20,000 spectators. You will be able to stand right where gladiators fought with wild animals, I suggest you to take lots of pictures making angry faces and poses.

After you finish the tour, your guide will take you to see the Theater and also what is left of some thermal baths.


Useful Information

Visiting Times
Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 17:30h (from 8:30 to 20:30h, April-September)
Sundays and Public Holidays from 10:00 to 16:00h (from 9:00 to 15:00h, April-September)
Mondays is closed

Price
1,50 € per person or free for EU members.

Read more

The Golden Lady of Seville

La Giralda was once a Muslim mosque but after the regimen of Fernando III of Castile in the 13th Century the mosque began to work as a Christian cathedral. In the 15th Century, people from Seville wanted to make the biggest temple that they could build and they actually did it. La Giralda, is the largest Gothic temple in the world and third largest Christian cathedral following Saint Peter’s in Rome and Saint Paul’s in London.

La Giralda gets its name from the the statue that is on top of the bell tower. The statue is a woman in roman clothes portraying faith. She is carrying a shield in one hand and a palm leaf in the other. The statue is able to rotate if the wind is strong enough to move the statue. The word “Giralda” comes from the Spanish word “Girar” which means turn.

Before you walk into the cathedral, you will see a big courtyard; this is one of the Moorish legacies, the Courtyard of the Orange Trees. The Muslims used to wash themselves before going inside the temple, so they have some fountains around the courtyard. Inside the temple, you will see the Main Altarpiece which is consider one of the greatest in the Christian world.

The ceiling is beautiful and you will be able to appreciate the details if you take a look the magnifier mirror that is right in the middle of the temple, in front of the main altar. The whole place speaks by itself. Spain at that time was a world power. Kings used to have the best architects and artisans to build their temples and they loved to included gold and precious gems on their designs.

La Giralda will give you the option to make you feel a great photographer, because every single shoot will capture a beautiful image. I highly suggest you to use the ramp and go up to the top of the tower, the astonish view of Seville will be the perfect final touch of your visit.

Useful Information

Visiting Times
Daily from 11:00 to 17:00
Sundays: from 14:30 to 18:00

Visiting Times from April to September
From Monday to Sunday: 9.30 to 19.00 h

Price:

General: 7,50 €
Residents, students, and seniors over 65 or retirees pay 1,50 €.
Children under 12 free.

Read more

The Alcázar, a palace within a palace

The Alcázar is a group of palaces also known as the Reales Alcázares. This wonderful place, is still working as a royal residence, when the king, queen or any member of the royal family stays in Seville, they usually stay at the Alcázar or use it for special events.

The Alcázar is another perfect example of the multicultural way of construction of the buildings that you will find in Seville, but the most predominant style in this case, is Mudejar.

While you are walking in the palace, you will find different “Patios” and rooms. The Patio de la Monteria, was used as a boundary between the city and the palace. It was built in 1364 and uses as part of decoration, Arabic inscriptions worshipping Allah.

The most important patio of the Palace is the “Patio of las Doncellas.” The vegetable motive decorations of the patio were done by the best artisans of the region and the “Patio de las Munecas” (Courtyard of the Dolls) gets its name from the little faces that are part of the decoration. The columns of this patio were part of the devastated palace of Medina Azahara in Cordoba.

The whole palace has beautiful details, but the best thing is see how different styles of architecture can live together creating a magical atmosphere. Open your eyes and try to catch Muslim artistic elements mix with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque.

Useful Information

Visiting Times from October to March
From Monday to Sunday: 9.30 to 17.00 h

Visiting Times from April to September
From Monday to Sunday: 9.30 to 19.00 h

Closed
January 1 and 6. Good Friday and December 25


Price:

General: 7,50 €

Free entrance for students, seniors, handicap and sevillian residents.

Read more

The Royal Gateway

The Hotel Alfonso XIII was built to house international dignitaries in 1929, during the Ibero-American Exhibition.

The architect was a native from Seville, Mr. Jose Espiau y Muñoz and the materials used to build the Hotel were brick, plaster, wood and ceramic. The predominant style of decoration is Mudejar: a historical version of the regional tradition inspired by Arab architecture.

The Hotel was inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII and since then, The Hotel has had numerous royal dignitaries as Prince Rainier and Grace of Monaco, Prince Charles and Princess Diana and all members of European royal families as part of V.I.P guest list. Presidents and celebrities also like to be treated as royalty, which is why personalities such as Ernest Hemingway, Evita Perón, Audrey Hepburn, Sofia Loren, Plácido Domingo, Brad Pitt, and Shakira had been guest of the royal suite of the Hotel.

During my visit to Seville I was lucky enough to get a quick tour of the Hotel. The first butler and the one who has to take care of kings and high profile personalities, was the guide who show us around the whole place. We started at the lobby, where he told us the history of the Hotel. After that we went up stairs, the walls were all tiled with unique pieces of local ceramic. The first room that he show us was consider a standard room, but for me it was not standard at all. The bedroom was full of light and the linens were so elegant that it was hard to even think to seat on them. The bathroom had a gorgeous view of the garden and all the imaginable creams and shampoos next to the sink. The whole suite had traditional decorations and high tech gadgets; it was just perfect I could live there without any problem.

Suddenly, the butler asked us to go to the royal suite. I couldn’t believe it! I quickly followed our perfectly dressed guide and as soon as he opened the doors I saw an enormous room. That place is bigger that many apartments that I know. It has a living room, a dinning room, a huge marble bath; a bedroom that has a super size bed; a library and even a little room were the service can organize the meals. After walking out of the royal suite we were full of questions and we even got some information about a picky lady who has three pages of special requirements.

We went downstairs and we saw the ballrooms. The floors and ceilings were breath taking and the chandeliers were pieces of art. For a moment I felt like a princess but unfortunately that was the last part of the tour and it was time to wake up from the dream

The Hotel Alfonso XIII is also known for top class gastronomy. During May, the hotel hostess two different gastronomic festivals: The Bull Meat Festival and the Galicia Festival. Both of them; unique opportunities to enjoy Iberian delicatessens.

Read more

Flamenco Passion

Flamenco is a traditional Spanish dance that was brought by the gypsies “gitanos” to the Andalusia region in the South of Spain in the 15th century. According to studies, the gypsies came from a region in the North part of India and started to settle in Spain 1447. The name “Gitano” comes from Egiptano, an old Spanish word for Egyptian.

Flamenco is the perfect blend of passion, mystery and enchantment. As soon as you hear the voice of “El Cantaor” or “La Cantaora” you can feel, even without understanding the words, the deep sentiment that is part of every song, known in Flamenco as “El Cante.” The lyrics are the source of inspiration for the guitar player who combines the emotion of the voice with the melodies of the guitar, this is called “El toque” that will set the tone for “El Baile,” the dance.

At the beginning, Flamenco was only voice and the sound of human instruments, as the palm of the hands, then, the Spanish guitar was incorporated and finally the tapping of the feet. Flamenco has different styles grouped into families; it depends on its structure, melodies and themes. Provinces as Cadiz, Malaga and Granada are the main contributors with Seville of all the branches. There are broadly speaking two main styles in Flamenco: the "jondo" - profound and serious, the cry of people oppressed for many centuries; and the "chico" - happy, light and often humorous.



Flamenco is strong and elegant. The costumes help the dancer to maintain grace and posture and the footwork, which has to be impeccable and precise, is re enforce with special shoes or boots. The final touch is given with the sophisticated movement of the arms and hands that will project the mood of the song with specific gestures.

I highly suggest you to go to a “Tablao,” a flamenco show or to a “Peña,” a flamenco club. The wooden floors will vibrate and the ambience will change at the very begging, it is almost instantaneous. Every single step, every single clap, will make your body feel an electrical explosion. The intensity of the sight of the dancers will be so deep that you will be able to feel their heart bit, and before you know it your hands will be dancing on the air. At this point your soul is already taking control of all your movements, let the fibers of your skin experience the

Read more

Beautiful paintings of El Prado: Murillo

El Sueño de el Patricio

On this painting, Murillo portraits the dream of “El patricio Juan.” Juan is sleeping next to his wife while he receives a message from the Virgin Marie, on the dream the Virgin is communicating to Juan that she wants a church to be built on a place that will get snow the next day.

I loved the painting because is huge and complex. The light and the colors are well worked and the golden frame is stunning.


La Inmaculada de los Venerables “Soult”


Murillo painted this oil on canvas in 1678.
The Spanish artist used as a subject of many of his paintings the Immaculate Conception. On this piece, The Virgin Marie is right in the middle, surrounded by beautiful angels who are playing around between clouds.

If you look close enough, you will see the peace on the eyes of the virgin and the shadows of her dress. When I was standing in front of the painting, I was trying to count the angels but I could not obtain an exact number. Can you?

Read more

Beautiful paintings of El Prado: Velazquez

Las Meninas

The most famous and heavily debated of Diego Velázquez's paintings is the fantastic and unusual family portrait 'Las Meninas'.

It was painted in 1656 and it is known as one of Velazquez master pieces. When I was in front of the huge canvas, I was amazed by all the elements that are part of this painting. While I was hearing the painting explanation, I was trying see what else Velazquez was trying hidding or what other detail I could discover by myself. I looked at the eyes of “La Infanta Margarita” who is the little girl surrounded by her waiting ladies and other people from the service, you will be able even to the the dog's family.

On the left side you will see a self portrait of Velazquez who is painting the Philip IV and his wife, Mariana de Austrias, as they stand before him. Look at them! they are the reflection of the mirror that is hanging at the back. Velazquez is giving us two paintings instead of one. According to studies, Velazquez wanted people to know that he was the painter of the king, he wanted to leave a memorable piece of the work that he was able to do. Velazquez broke, in the seventeenth century, the norms of traditional portraits. The Spanish painter also gave the viewer the privileged opportunity to have another point of view of the royal family.

Los Borrachos (The Drunkards)

Velazquez's first major mythological painting. Many people describe it as an enigmatic work that has, as one of its characters; Bacchus, the God of wine.

On this painting, Velazquez humanizes the ancient god and his followers, the painting portraits a group of men drinking wine and having a good laugh. The natural elements of the painting are the perfect touch that allows the viewer to even want to have a good glass of Spanish wine with “The Drunkards."

Enjoy at the museum the Spanish culture trought the oils and the bush of one of Its greatest artist.


Las Hilanderas (The Spinners)

Is an illustration of a Greek fable that tells story about a spinning contest between Mineimina and Arachne.

Mineimina is the Godness of the arts, the one on the left side of the painting. Nobody knows how the Godnesss looks like, that is why Velazquez portraits her as an old lady, by doing this he is communicating to the viewer, the wisdown that the Godness has. Arachne is the one on the middle and the one who sets up the contest and looses, that is why she does not have a lot of light but at the same time has a privileged place on the painting.

La Fragua de Vulcano (the Forge of Vulcan)

Is another piece of the Spanish painter Diego Velásquez. The painting was done after the first trip of Velásquez to Italy in 1629. According to studies and research, the painting was a request of the king.

The painting describes the moment when Apolo is visiting Vulcano while he is working on the weapons for the war. Apolo is telling Vulcano that his wife, Venus, is cheating on him with Mars, War’s God.

Read more